The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique
The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique are a travelling theater, acrobatics, and dance company that puts on shows in cities throughout Derkomai. They also tell fortunes, sell potions, scrolls, and "Curios of Curious Capability," objects that they claim have magical powers.
When Donatello Genovesi was falsely accused of raping and murdering a young woman, the fiance of the Da Therasti Okku Royal Magistrate's son, he was forced to leave Okkudo. Three of his friends, Julien Henry, Anne-Laurie Trinh, and Robin Corcoran, all performers with Donatello's father's entertainment troupe, helped him to escape the city. The Royal Magistrate had wanted posters put up in all the towns and villages of the region for information on the whereabouts of Donatello and his three companions, who were accused of being accomplices to the murder. Traveling south by river boat on the Desert River, they talked about their predicament and what they would do. It was on the boat that they decided they would form their own traveling entertainment troupe, they would call "The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique." The river boat finally reached Nislokshi. They escaped Da Therasti Okku and the reaches of the Royal Magistrate, but were left homeless and without jobs or income there.
In Nislokshi, the four performers worked odd jobs, did street performances, scrimped and saved, and were finally able to buy two mules and a small covered wagon. They bought some paint and crafted some decorations. They made their wagon brightly colored and festive. They bought supplies for traveling: sleeping rolls and blankets, warm clothes, water jars, food that kept well, and so on. They bought a few costumes and props for their shows. After a few months in Nislokshi, the Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique were finally ready to set off.
From Nislokshi, the four set off down the Desert River Road heading southeast with their mules and wagon. In every town and village they came to they performed to earn money. They saved as much as they could and invested in more costumes, instruments, and props for their performances. Soon, their wagon was overflowing with all of their gear, and their two mules were straining to pull the overloaded wagon. When they reached Senlokshi, the next large town downstream from Nislokshi, they sold the wagon, bought a larger one and with it, two more mules. They stayed in Senlokshi for a couple of months, refining and perfectiing their acts, performing, and watching other performers. They rented a couple of cheap rooms in a rougher part of the town, since they were still mostly destitute, especially after buying the new wagon, two mules, and accoutrements for their shows, as well as boarding the mules and buying enough food to avoid starving.
One day, the four of them heard about a singer performing at an inn near to where they were staying. She was said to be beautiful and have an ethereal, unforgettable voice. They decided to go see her perform. The singer's name was Diaanen Elorialir Alea'athem, and she was half Elvirim. Her beauty was stunning, her voice was incredible, and her performance left everyone in the crowd mesmerized. She sang a capella, with perfect pitch, needing no accompaniment. Her songs filled the inn, leaving more than one patron weeping with the emotions her songs evoked. Donatello, Julien, Robin, and Anne-Laurie all were enchanted.
After the performance, they decided to talk with her about joining their troupe. They went looking and found her just outside the inn in a side alley. She was talking with a rough-looking, unkempt, overweight man of about 50 years old. He grabbed her wrist hard and growled at her, "I don't care whether or not you starve. I need the money now! I told you, if I don't pay off the gang, they'll kill both of us! Give me all of it, or I'm going to hurt you real bad. If you want to keep that pretty face, you'd better hand it over." He slapped her hard, knocking her to the ground, and then he kicked her in the side. Gasping with pain, and weeping, she answered softly, "Okay! Take it, It's all I have. Just leave me alone." She pulled a coin purse from her sleeve and threw it away from her. The fat thug kicked her once more, then picked up the coin purse. He said, "This isn't enough. I'll be back. Don't think this is over." Noticing the four performers, he yelled, "What are you looking at? Mind your own flaming business if you know what's good for you! Now get out of here!"
Donatello had seen enough. Enraged, he shouted at him, "Oh, you're some kind of tough guy, is that it? Is beating up women your thing? Maybe you'd like some." He punched the thug in the stomach. He doubled over, and Donatello punched him as hard as he could in the face several times, shattering his nose and jaw, and blinding his left eye. The fat thug dropped to the ground, unconscious and bleeding from his mouth and nose.
Anne-Laurie ran over and helped the singer to her feet. Her face was reddened where the fat thug had slapped her, and she winced and held her side where he had kicked her, but otherwise, she seemed to be okay. She said, "I must thank you for your help, but I am afraid we are all very much in trouble now. You should all flee this place before he awakens. As for me, perhaps I shall not live much longer. It is regrettable, but in the end, all life joins Eia’au, and so will I."
Julien said, "Let's talk about that later. Right now, I think we ought to get you someplace safer, where your fat 'friend' can't find you." She said, "Yes, though one day I will inevitably join Eia'au, I wish to delay that day for some time. Your plan is sensible, and you seem trustworthy. If you have such a safe place, I will follow you for now." Anne-Laurie said, "Okay, then. Let me introduce us. I'm Anne-Laurie. The pugilist here is Donatello, and these two are Julien and Robin. We'll take you to where we are staying. Let's go."
Arriving at their rented rooms, the singer said to them, "I must again thank you for your kind and selfless defense and assistance. My name is Diaanen Elorialir Alea'athem. Human people usually call me Dianna. As you can see, I am half Elvirim." She went on, her voice soft and halting, "My father was an Elvirim of the mountain forests. My mother was a mountain village girl of exceptional beauty and grace. My parents encountered one another when my mother was foraging for mushrooms, herbs, and medicinal plants in the forests. She often would sing as she gathered. My father would watch and wait for her, enthralled by her beauty and her singing. One day he dared to approach her, and after that they met often. Soon, they fell in love, and my mother stole away from the village to marry him and live with him among my Elvirim people. I grew up among the Elvirim, but my mother also taught me the language and ways of Human people. Regrettably, when I was still in my early teen years, they were killed when the Elvririm village where we lived was attacked by a band of Orkrim. They tried to defend themselves, but the Orkrim overwhelmed them. I hid in the forest, escaping the attack; otherwise, I too would have been killed. Not knowing where any other Elvirim lived near to us, I made my way to Senlokshi, the nearest civilized place that I knew." Dianna, her face clouding up, continued her story, "A human woman I now consider my step-mother took me in, and I lived with her and her husband for several years. She was very kind, but her husband, my step-father, though also a kind man, was a gambler and associated with a gang of smugglers and thieves. He borrowed a considerable sum of money from the gang to pay off his gambling debts. His cousin, the man that you saw beating me, is a member of the gang and vouched for my step-father. When my step-father was unable to pay his debts, the gang killed him and my step-mother, leaving me alone in the house they rented. They told my step-father's cousin that he must pay the debt, or he would suffer a worse fate. Knowing that I have some ability to sing, he is forcing me to perform at the inn to raise money. He allows me almost nothing with which to live. I cannot pay the rent for the house, and I have little to eat." Weeping and her voice trembling, she said, "So now you know how I have fallen into the predicament in which I regret you are now involved."
Donatello, more than a little smitten, said, "Don't worry! Fate has brought us together! We were coming to talk with you about joining our troupe when we saw what happened!" He explained who they were and how they had come to Senlokshi. Dianna said, "Perhaps Eia’au has a larger plan. You all seem to be kind-hearted, honorable people." Looking particularly at Donatello, but not in a blatantly flirtatious way, she said, "I have warm feelings for all of you. I am very sorry that you have become involved in my troubles." Anne-Laurie said, "No, don't be sorry. We wanted to invite you to join us as soon as we heard you sing. Your voice is so beautiful, and after hearing your story, I think you have to get out of Senlokshi. You have nothing to lose. Come with us!" Donatello agreed eagerly, "Yes, I, uh, we really want you to join us!" Julien and Robin both said, "Yes, come with us!" Pondering this sudden turn of events and the kindness of her new friends, Dianna said, "It seems my path has taken an unexpected turn. The ways of Eia’au indeed are often truly mysterious. Yes. I will join you."
That evening, Donatello and Anne-Laurie escorted Dianna back to the rented house where she was living. She packed her meager belongings and left a note for the landlord saying she would not be continuing to rent there. While they were away, Julien and Robin packed the troupe's gear into their wagon. Early the next morning, just as the sun rose, the Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique, now with five members, left Senlokshi. It would be some time before they ever returned.
Structure
The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique do not have a rigid chain of command or organization. Donatello Genovesi is acknowledged by all of the members as their leader, and decisions are made by concensus, with the original four members given some deference. Members are free to come and go, though Donatello tries to keep popular and skilled performers with the troupe as best he can, using his charisma and charm, and perhaps an under-the-table monetary incentive on occasion.
Culture
The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique is a troupe of performers and artists, after all, so they tend to be rather free-spirited. Love affairs, trysts, and flings are frequent, as are arguments, break ups, and tears. Donatello uses all of his charisma, charm, and management skill to keep the troupe together. He often calls on Julien, Robin, and Anne-Laurie to help, as their long experience as traveling performers, plus their relationships with the artists, often allows them to soothe hurt feelings and reconcile difficult relationships. Many of the younger female performers confide in Dianna, sensing that she understands their emotional hurts and pain.
Assets
At the current time, the twenty performers of the Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique travel with twelve wagons, each pulled by four mules. Each wagon is filled with provisions for travel, tents, water, costumes and props, everyday clothing, and personal necessities. Ten of the wagons are each shared by two performers for sleeping, when they cannot sleep in tents, with two wagons dedicated to cargo. They also travel with four guards on horseback that share the two cargo wagons when needed. In Kinsanaile, the troupe has a large compound where they live when they are not traveling, plus additional storage for their belongings and savings.
History
After Donatello Genovesi, Julien Henry, Anne-Laurie Trinh, Robin Corcoran, and Diaanen Elorialir Alea'athem left Senlokshi on their initial journey as a performing troupe, they traveled southeast on the Desert Road to Kinkangshi. From there, they could cross the Desert River, go north up to Azmilokshi, then continue southeast on the road to Senyon, or they could turn south to the pass through the Great Southern Range to Kinsanaile and into Sudland. Given that the journey through the pass is shorter and better traveled than the road to Senyon, they opted to turn south. When they reached Kinsanaile, and were within the boundaries of Sudland, they immediately felt a sense of relief. Donatello, Robin, Julien, and Anne-Laurie were always worried that the Da Therasti Okku Royal Magistrate would send someone after them, and of course, Dianna was still frightened that her step-father's cousin and his gang would find them. Sudland had a reputation of being an orderly, well-policed country, and Kinsanaile certainly seemed to be. The town appeared to be quite wealthy. It was a border and mining town. Precious metals were refined, bought, and sold there, and border and sales taxes were collected The town also had the advantage of being somewhat centrally located. From there, they could travel throughout Sudland, east to Senyon and even to Chessa, or back up the Desert Road toward Da Therasti Okku - not that they'd choose to go back that way for some time.
They set up and began to perform in Kinsanaile near the town square. The audiences were generous, and the five of them made more money than they had in any other town before then. Julien, being perceptive and forward-thinking as usual, suggested to the rest that Kinsanaile would be a good place to make their home base. Donatello and the rest thought that it was perhaps a good idea, but they didn't make an immediate decision. They needed some time to consider it.
One day, Baron Severin Andersen, the ruler of the town, and his retinue came to one of their performances. Anne-Laurie's graceful and sultry dancing and Dianna's ethereal voice enthralled the baron, and he couldn't take his eyes away from them. The baron fancied himself a ladies' man, though he wasn't particularly handsome nor especially charming. He approached the performers, trying to ingratiate himself with Anne-Laurie and Dianna. Donatella fumed, but kept it to himself. He knew well enough that insulting barons isn't usually a good idea. In the course of their conversation, someone mentioned that they were considering making Kinsanaile their home base. He immediately seized on the idea, "Oh, I insist! Kinsanaile is the perfect place for your wonderful troupe to make home! I am, um, I mean, the people here are enthralled with your, um, beauty, ummm, no, yes, your talent! Yes, especially your talent!" Robin and Julien looked at each other, rolling their eyes. The baron was a putz. He went on, "I know just the place for you! I have a large compound just near my manor. It has stables and plenty of room for you all to store your gear and to live, all built to my royal standards! Yes, I insist. I will even waive all rent and fees for one year!" The baron was a putz, but he was also a businessman, and he didn't get rich by being stupid. He recognized the potential for a future profit when he saw it.
Well, refusing barons when they insist on something isn't usually a good idea, either, and the compound sounded like it would be better than anything they even hoped to be able to rent or buy, so they agreed. The baron was thrilled, of course. And so, Kinsanaile became their permanent home base.
As the troupe grew, the baron agreed to let the new additions live at the compound as well and expanded it as needed. Though he tried to flirt with the women of the troupe, especially Dianna and Anne-Laurie, he was still a gentleman and maintained proper boundaries. In the end, the troupe benefited much from making their home base in the baron's compound at Kinsanaile and his generosity. In time, even Donatello appreciated him.
Founding Date
9137
Leader
Location
Notable Members
Diaanen Elorialir Alea'athem by Peter Nelson (Zero Sum Games)
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